The Singing Dogs – Jingle Bells 1955

Christmas Records Party tonight! Costume is ready. Records are ready. This is going to be really stupid.

On a serious level this 1955 recording has some crazy early sampling on it. Cutting up tape (or was this pre tape?) for the chorus was clearly enough work so they used a guitar on the verses but its still impressive.

On a stupid level this is a really stupid record. I think it sold tons in America. It was reissued a bunch of times (the pictured one is 70s) and the picture sleeve 50s version is worth a handful of moneys.

Odd.

The Emotions – What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas 1973

The Emotions were a great Stax Soul group in the early 70s (The “Untouched” LP) and a pretty good Disco group in the late 70s (“Boogie Wonderland”, “You’ve Got The Best Of My Love”). They cut this heartbreaking soul side in 73 (the picture is of my reissue copy) and it may be my favourite Soul Christmas tune of all.

The “when I have nobody?” line and accompanying melody just pull the carpet out from under you. A proper sad Christmas song.

The Christmas Records Party is tomorrow! I’m getting excited now.

Can – Silent Night 1976

A lot of people seem surprised that old Krautrockers Can, aka everybody in the world’s retrospective favourite band of the 70s, actually released a Christmas single.

They are forgetting that Germans love Christmas even more than Jamaicans and gave the world most of our Christmas traditions. I should imagine the members of Can, being such big Christmas fans, gather together once a year to watch the He-Man & She Ra Christmas special and drink Snowballs.

Their silent night isn’t from their greatest period (no beats) but it’s still pretty entertaining.

Once again, if you like this Christmas music then I hope to see you down at the Mucky Pup on the Thursday night.

The Monday Morning Quarterback – Santa Claus is Coming To Town/Here Comes Santa Claus Medley 1972

Do I like Christmas records? Do I like Marching Bands? Do I like Christmas records by Marching Bands?

All these questions and more will be answered at our World Of Proper Christmas Records Party on Thursday.

This record is pretty nuts. I can accept that it exists (Courtesy of the Grossmont High School Pep Band) but why on earth did Waner Bros put it out? Happier times. Actually Christmas 1972 was a bit of a nightmare according to Wikipedia, especially if you were North Vietnamese. That’s not the point though.
The point is CHRISTMAS MARCHING BAND RECORD!!

Christmas records all this week!

The Maytals – Christmas Feelings 1964

Jamaica has produced more Christmas records than all the other countries in the world put together. This isn’t a fact but it’s not a lie.

Legendary Ska band The Maytals loved Christmas greetings, it made them have a happy feeling.

I too love Christmas greetings.

If you like your good Christmas music, or indeed your bad Christmas music make sure you get down to World Of Proper’s Christmas Records Party this Thursday.

Christmas records all this week!